Removable transparent electrically conductive thin film

Abstract

One example includes a system that is comprised of a transparent protective panel, a transparent electrically conductive thin film, a transparent pane, and an adhesive. The transparent electrically conductive thin film is fixed to the transparent protective panel, the transparent protective panel and the transparent electrically conductive film together forming a composite transparent panel. The adhesive adhesively couples the composite transparent panel to the transparent pane, the adhesive failing adhesively at an interface between the adhesive and the transparent pane.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a composite transparent panel comprised of only two layers including:
 a transparent protective panel; and 
 a transparent electrically conductive thin film fixed to the transparent protective panel; 
 
 a transparent pane; and 
 an adhesive to adhesively couple the composite transparent panel to the transparent pane, the adhesive failing adhesively at an interface between the adhesive and the transparent pane to facilitate easy removal of the composite transparent panel without damaging the transparent electrically conductive film. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a metallic shim that is fixed to the transparent pane and electrically couples the transparent electrically conductive thin film with a frame structure. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a T shaped seal to electrically couple the metallic shim to the frame structure. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the metallic shim is a tapered metallic shim that tapers from a narrower portion proximate to where the tapered metallic shim is coupled to the transparent electrically conductive thin film to a wider portion proximate to where the tapered metallic shim is electrically coupled to the seal. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transparent electrically conductive thin film is capacitively coupled to the metallic shim. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent protective panel is a transparent polymeric panel approximately equal in length with the transparent electrically conductive thin film and the transparent pane. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent electrically conductive thin film is an electrically resistive heating element that generates heat in response to application of a voltage to the transparent electrically conductive thin film. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent electrically conductive thin film is an Iridium Tin Oxide (ITO) coating. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent electrically conductive thin film dissipates electrostatic charges from the system. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent pane is a windshield laminate. 
     
     
       11. A method, comprising:
 fixing a transparent electrically conductive thin film to a transparent protective panel, the transparent protective panel and the transparent electrically conductive thin film together being the only two layers that form a composite transparent panel; and 
 adhesively coupling the composite transparent panel to a transparent pane via an adhesive, the adhesive failing adhesively at an interface between the adhesive and the transparent pane, which facilitates easy removal of the composite transparent panel without damaging the transparent electrically conductive film. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising fixing a metallic shim to the transparent pane to electrically couple the transparent electrically conductive thin film with a frame structure. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing a seal between the metallic shim and the frame structure, the seal electrically coupling the metallic shim and the frame structure. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , generating heat with the transparent electrically conductive thin film in response to application of a voltage to the transparent electrically conductive thin film. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the transparent electrically conductive thin film is an Iridium Tin Oxide (ITO) coating. 
     
     
       16. A system, comprising:
 a composite transparent panel comprised of only two layers including:
 a transparent erosion shield; and 
 a transparent electrically conductive thin film fixed to the transparent erosion shield; 
 
 a windshield of a vehicle; 
 an adhesive to adhesively couple the composite transparent panel to the windshield, the adhesive failing adhesively at an interface between the adhesive and the windshield to facilitate easy removal of the composite transparent panel without damaging the transparent electrically conductive film; 
 a metallic shim that is fixed to the windshield and electrically couples the transparent electrically conductive thin film with a frame structure; and 
 a seal to electrically couple the metallic shim to the frame structure. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the transparent erosion shield is a transparent polymeric panel approximately equal in length with the transparent electrically conductive thin film and the windshield. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the transparent electrically conductive thin film is an electrically resistive heating element that generates heat in response to application of a voltage to the transparent electrically conductive thin film. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the transparent electrically conductive thin film is capacitively coupled to the metallic shim. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the transparent electrically conductive thin film is an Iridium Tin Oxide (ITO) coating.